What Are the Differences Between Sociology and Psychology?

The main difference between sociology and psychology is that sociology focuses on society and group behavior, while psychology focuses on individual behavior and mental processes. Sociology and psychology researchers use empirical and scientific approaches in these disciplines, but because they study human experience and behavior, they are considered humanities.

There are many compelling reasons to major in the humanities in college. Humanities degree programs teach students transferable job skills like critical thinking and communication. In fact, about 84% of employers and managers state they prefer employees who possess soft skills.¹

Once you decide to major in the humanities, you will need to choose a degree program, such as a social science degree. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose between the various specializations in psychology, such as social psychology vs. sociology.

In This Article:

• What Is Psychology?
• What Is Sociology?
• Sociology vs. Psychology: Similarities and Differences
• Social Psychology vs. Sociology
• Career Options for Sociology Graduates
• Career Options for Psychology Graduates
• Do Sociology and Psychology Majors Earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree?
• Do Sociology and Psychology Majors Have Similar Courses at GCU?
• Tips For Choosing Between Sociology and Psychology
• Pursue Sociology and Psychology Options at GCU

What Is Psychology?

Psychology studies thought patterns and how they influence an individual’s behavior. The study of psychology intends to explain how the mind works and to help predict and change individuals’ mental processes and behaviors of individuals.

There are many fields of psychology that you can specialize in. For example, clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Sports psychology focuses on athletes’ thought patterns and behaviors and forensic psychology focuses on applying psychological principles to the law.

These are just a few examples of psychology subfields. To comprehend the difference between sociology and psychology, you’ll also need to develop a basic understanding of sociology.

What Is Sociology?

Sociology studies societal institutions, human social relationships and behaviors. It is a broad field that includes everything from crime to religion. Ultimately, sociology seeks to understand how society influences human thought processes and behaviors. Family conflict, race relations, deviant behaviors, personal identity, poverty, prejudice and romantic love are all examples of subject areas that a sociologist might study.

A sociologist’s work can influence social programs and public policy. For example, jobs for sociology graduates may include researching new crime prevention programs or after-school educational enrichment activities for children.

Sociology vs. Psychology: Similarities and Differences

Sociology and psychology are closely related and there is a great deal of overlap between these two fields. Both are social sciences and strive toward a greater understanding of humanity. These fields are also closely related to other social sciences, including political science (which focuses on the study of government and political processes) and anthropology (which explores the development of cultures and societies). Both study human thought processes and behaviors. They may also work in similar organizations, such as government agencies.^2,3 In addition, with either major, a graduate might choose to work directly with people or focus primarily on research.

However, as previously noted, these fields diverge on a few key areas. Whereas psychologists focus on individuals’ thoughts and behavioral patterns, sociologists focus on human behavioral patterns within their collective social life (in groups and institutions).

Psychologists must understand basic medical science, such as the biological processes of the brain, whereas sociologists must have a keen grasp of social theory and public policy.

Social Psychology vs. Sociology

Social psychology studies human thought and behavior within a social context. Before diving into the similarities and differences between social psychology and sociology, it’s necessary to define what social psychology is and how it differs from any other subfield of psychology. First, you’ll recall that psychology studies human thought and behavioral patterns. However, those thoughts and behavioral patterns do not occur independently in a vacuum; external forces, such as aggression, prejudice, conformity or leadership, can influence them.

In other words, social psychology studies how human thoughts and behaviors can change in response to external stimuli, such as the presence of other humans. Note that the “presence of other humans” may be actual, imagined or implied (e.g., another human might physically be present, or their presence might be suggested, such as in a surveillance camera).

An example of behavioral changes in response to human presence may help you better understand how much others can influence people. Imagine that you have a white-collar office job. You dress up for work, sit in your cubicle and use relatively formal language to address your co-workers and supervisor.

When you return home in the evening, you change into comfortable, less formal clothes, sprawl out on the couch, prop your feet up on the coffee table and hang out with your friends. Perhaps you turn the TV on, watch a game and then yell at the TV when your team does poorly.

In this environment, surrounded by your friends, it seems perfectly natural to yell at the TV and use harsh language. In contrast, you’d never think of yelling at your computer screen when something goes wrong because your co-workers and supervisor would likely hear you. This is just one scenario that illustrates how the people around you influence you.

There are some similarities between social psychology and sociology. For example, both fields explore human behaviors in groups and different situations.

However, there are also some differences. Sociologists study larger groups, such as whole societies or significant segments of society. They may study whether the availability of mental health services in urban areas leads to decreased crime.

Although social psychologists study groups to some extent, their primary focus is on the individual. They seek answers to the question: How does the individual change their behavior in response to social pressures from the group?

Career Options for Sociology Graduates

If you are still unsure whether studying psychology or sociology is right for you, considering your career options is a good idea. If you graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, you may be ready to pursue various positions.

Here’s a look at some examples of jobs that could be a good fit for a person with competencies in sociology:

• Social and community service manager
• Probation officer
• Correctional treatment specialist

Note that some jobs may require additional credentials or qualifications beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Can a Sociologist Become a Therapist?

This is a tricky question because there are different types of therapists, and the requirements vary. In addition, each state establishes its own requirements for therapists. Some therapists, such as clinical therapists, need a license to practice, while others might not.⁴

In general, yes, a sociologist can become a therapist. However, you should expect to meet specific career requirements. For example, psychologists generally need at least a master’s degree, and clinical or counseling psychologists need a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. You may be required to complete an internship or postdoctoral training to acquire a license.⁴

If you’re currently a sociologist and thinking about transitioning to a career in therapy, you should start by researching the requirements for your state (or the state where you plan to practice). You should also research the specific requirements for the type of therapist you would like to become (e.g., marriage and family therapist or school psychologist).

Career Options for Psychology Graduates

Both psychology and sociology degrees are versatile and may prepare graduates to pursue various career opportunities. With a strong background in psychology, for example, you might decide to pursue jobs such as:

• Psychologist
• Postsecondary psychology teacher
• Social and community service manager
• Social and human service assistant
• Community and social service specialist

Some careers may require additional training and/or licensure. For example, if you want to become a clinical psychologist, you will need to continue your education. Clinical and counseling psychologists are generally required to hold a doctoral degree and state licensure.⁴

Do Sociology and Psychology Majors Earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts Degree?

Although there are quite a few answers to the question, What’s the difference between sociology and psychology? these two fields also share some commonalities. For instance, pursuing a career in either psychology or sociology will require earning a Bachelor of Science degree rather than a Bachelor of Arts degree.

What is the difference between a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree? A Bachelor of Arts degree is typically a humanities degree (e.g., communications and history) that focuses on critical thinking and qualitative data. In contrast, a Bachelor of Science degree is typically used for STEM fields (e.g., engineering and accounting) and focuses on analytical reasoning and quantitative data.

Do Sociology and Psychology Majors Have Similar Courses at GCU?

If you’re planning to earn your degree at Grand Canyon University, you may be curious about the curriculum for each major. If you major in psychology at GCU, you can expect to take courses in topics like:

• Psychology of children and adolescents
• Social, health and abnormal psychology
• Cognition and neuroscience 
• Psychological research and ethics

If you’re majoring in sociology, you’ll examine topics such as:

• Social welfare
• Marriage and the family
• Stratification and inequality throughout society
• Sociology research

There are some similarities. For instance, both types of majors will examine research methodologies specific to their chosen discipline, social psychology, probability and statistics. Both programs also require a capstone project for degree completion.

Tips For Choosing Between Sociology and Psychology

If you are still undecided between a career path in sociology or psychology, speaking with a school or career counselor might be helpful. If you are already college-bound, you should know that you may not need to choose a major immediately. If you've already declared a major and wish to switch, it may be possible to do so. Contact a university counselor for assistance.

You can also explore career guides in psychology and take advantage of your college’s alum network. Reach out to alums with sociology and psychology degrees to find out where their studies took them. If they are local, you might even be able to arrange a job shadowing visit which can help you decide which major is right for you

In addition, switching fields after your baccalaureate degree may be possible if you pursue graduate-level education. GCU offers several master’s and doctoral programs, such as the Master of Science in Addiction Counseling and the Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Cognition and Instruction (Quantitative Research).

Pursue Sociology and Psychology Options at GCU

No matter where your life takes you, you can enjoy opportunities to build a solid academic foundation at Grand Canyon University. Choose the Bachelor of Science in Psychology or the Bachelor of Science in Sociology program and explore our specialization options, such as social work and forensic psychology. You can find the right degree program for your career aspirations by filling out the form on this page.